Leatt X-Frame Knee Braces

What it is

• Leatt's (other) mid-tier knee brace.
• Integrated knee cap protection

The Leatt X-Frame is an off-the-shelf knee brace with integrated hard knee protection. This provides the same joint protection – including adjustable hyperextension protection- as the X-Frame hybrid previously reviewed by Dirt Bike Test. The standard X-frame features the addition of a hard knee cap protector integrated into the hinge mechanism of the brace. We’ve tested this brace for more than a hundred riding hours and have found enough additional information to merit a follow up article on the Leatt braces.

How it works

• Solid joint protection
• Reasonable comfort

The obvious differentiator from the Hybrid version is the integral knee protection in place of a separate knee cup. In all our time using the X-frame we’ve never felt any sort of discomfort from impacts, so this feature worked as intended.

In terms of joint protection, there is a noticeable reduction of the sense of “feeling” your knees after a ride between riding with the braces and without.

For comfort, the X-frame gives back what you put in. If the rider takes their time and follows the correct sequence of straps as indicated by the number at the end of each strap, and bends and unbends their knee slightly while cinching down then the brace is comfortable enough. When we got in a hurry and  neglected this procedure braces did chafe the thigh and calf. Additionally, we found that the thicker knee brace sleeves that came with the X-frames were more comfortable than aftermarket single-layer sleeves.

Finally on the subject of comfort, when hiking or walking for an extended distance –a couple of miles, or more– the knee-cap portion of the brace does chafe the wearer's knee cap, but this is outside the brace's intended purpose anyway.

In our long-term testing we experienced two issues with the X-Frame brace: one that can be solved with technique, and the other that was a bit of a show stopper.

After roughly twenty hours the numbered velcro tabs of the X-Frame developed a tendency to be undone by our while pulling up riding pants past the straps. The fix for this is to use the numbered side of the strap as the permanently velcroed end, and fasten the thicker opposite side of the strap over top of the number as pictured. This protects the thinner end from being rolled off by a pant leg. It takes a bit of finagling to perfectly position the numbered portion that doesn't get in the way of the hook portion of the hook and loop, but this is a one-time set up. It will depend on the circumference of the riders leg at each strap whether this is technique is possible. 

The second issue was encountered around hour one hundred, when the fasteners holding the sub-plate of the lower leg section of the brace stripped the threaded insert, preventing the bottom strap from being properly tightened. Presumably this compromised the joint protection for the (more than a) few rides we pressed the brace back into service. According to Leatt, this component was not a part that could be replaced separately. However, the right and left knee brace can be purchased individually for $318.00 at the time of writing.

Overall we were pleased with the braces, as they lasted over 100 hours, or two years of riding. But at this quality level we found the X-frames are not a buy once, cry once. Whether or not the X-frames offer enough value for money is up to each buyer, but while we used them the Leatt X-frames performed well.